Fast Break
BASKETBALL
Clippers acquire Marcus Camby
The Los Angeles Clippers acquired center Marcus Camby from the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday for the option to exchange second-round picks with the Clippers in 2010.
Camby led the NBA in blocked shots with 3.61 per game last season, only the second player in league history to do so in three straight seasons.
He averaged 9.1 points and 13.1 rebounds playing a career-best 34.9 minutes per game for the Nuggets. Camby was the league’s defensive player of the year in 2006-07.
He played the last six seasons in Denver after four years with the New York Knicks.
Camby is the second big-name player to land with the Clippers in less than a week. Baron Davis left Golden State to sign with his hometown team last Thursday on the heels of Elton Brand and leading scorer Corey Maggette departing as free agents.
Brand bolted to Philadelphia, while Maggette went to the Warriors. Davis signed a five-year deal worth $65 million.
Camby will be counted on to help replace the 20 points and 10 rebounds Brand has averaged in his nine-year career.
Golf
Woods’ caddie out some dough
Tiger Woods is out for the season recovering from knee surgery, so that means his caddie, Steve Williams, is out of work.
Caddies are generally paid about 7 percent to 10 percent of a player’s winnings, so Williams will miss out on six figures worth of salary in the absence of Woods.
As caddies are a close-knit group, Williams’ fellow loopers decided to take up a collection for their now unemployed colleague.
At the Travelers Championship last month, they posted a sign asking for donations to the “Steve Williams Benevolent Fund.”
Apparently, they figured Williams didn’t need much help because the donation jar was a shot glass.
Poker
Dickau tourney seeks entries
Inspired by the World Series of Poker? The Dan Dickau Celebrity Poker Tournament is back for its third year, scheduled for Sept. 3 at Northern Quest Casino.
The tournament to benefit charities is open to the first 100 paid entrants ($500) and 20 celebrities from the basketball world, plus three world championship poker players.
Entry fee includes a reception, gift bag and two seats to the Northern Quest Casino Spokane All-American’s Charity Classic game to be played at Gonzaga University on Sept. 4. Prizes will be given to the top 20 players in the tournament. Top prize includes a 50-inch plasma HDTV among other gifts.
For more information and entry form see www.dandickaubasketball.com.